Valve



Feb. 14, 1933.

Filed Dec.

, R. C. SHAND VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 14, 1933.

R. c. SHAND 1,897,076

VALVE Filed Deo. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE YS.

Patented Feb. 14, 1933 PATENT @FFCE REGINALD C. SHAND, OF BERKELEY, CALIFOENA VALVE Aeplcaton led December 1'7, 1929. Serial No. 414,563.

My invention relates to a valve, particularly to that type of valve which is employed in connection With containers utilized for handling or storing liquids such as petroleum and usually termed breather valve.

lt has been observed that material economies can be effected by prohibiting` free air -ircu`- ion and from a tan; containing a volar e liquid, Where the volatile portion of the liquid is of value. This has been accomplished by providing a valve upon the othervapor tight liquid container or tank which vfill not open until a pressure dilferential exists between the container and the atmosphere in excess of .that for Which the valve is set. By providing such a valve, vapor circulation is normally inhibited, only occurring when relatively eXtreme conditions exist. However, at times the rate of flow of vapor to or from the container' may be at a relatively high rate and, when some other conditions arise, such as pumping' into or out of the tank at a relatively high rate, the flow of vapor may exceed the maximum capacity of the valve to such an extent that a danP rous pressure differential is created. T his may result in damage to the tank structure by collapsing or bursting it. At other times the pressure differential may closely anproiniate that for Which the valve is set. Vfith t is condition the Vvalve may not open positively. fluttering on it seat and thus giv rise to hamme-' M. Since this sets up abnormal stresses is unwelcome and dangerous. llllhile various means have been suggested for obviating th one of them have 1neen thoroughly satisfactory, interfering and reducir fluid flou' and being` uncertain il o eiation.

The valves heretofore have usually been d in communication with the tank coiled to the tank. llhen the valve a liquid for scalin purposes it Was have the valv evel. Since the considerably in dethe on the roof d, was level. flange to accommodate for the roof slope, an expensive and uncertain procedure.

lt is the broad object of my invention to provide a valve Wl ich overcomes certain of the above difliculties inherent in valves heretofore.-

lt is another object of my invention to provide a valve structure Whose position can be adjusted after it is operatively placed.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the following specification in Which I have outlined the preferred form of my invention. It is to be understood that the invention, as defined by the claims, is to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent With the state of the prior art.

ln the drawings Figure l is a cross section through a form of valve embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a modified form of valve and valve seat.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating certain features of construction.

Figure l is a section on the line 4 4 of' Figure 8.

Figure 5 is illustrative of another form of valve and valve seat which is particularly successfully employed under certain conditions.

Briefly characterized my invention comprises a valve in which the aperture provided for fluid flow is substantially unobstructed so that free flonT may take place therethrough. Further, it includes the utilization of suitable valve damping means Which are so provided as to obviate fluttering of the valve While not interfering with the flovv of fluid and which are practically constant in operation. The valve is also adapted to be adjusted after it has been positioned in place so that it may be in a predetermined position, usually level, as compared to the tank.

In that form of valve Which I have here chosen for illustration, a valve body 6 is positioned in communication with a fluid container such as tank 7 having a sloping roof as shown in Figure l. This is effected, in aocordance with my invention, through the employment of a nipple 8 threaded into a com- Y panionflange 9-vvhich is secured tothetanl.v

The'valve body yis provided vvith a curved lannulus ll defining an aperture 12 andA adapted. tok seat and bev moved Vupon an edge v13 cooperatively providedon a valve base 14v Y which is threaded onto the nipple 8. The

. valve may be movedrelative to the base to a Y desired positionvvith respect to the 'tank'and then secured. Tosec'urethe valve, aV plural- Y The body. 6 `is usually castor' a suitable ma# terial toV have,f"i`n addition to the previously Amentioned "aperture 13, other apertures respectively designatedas'V 21', 22and V23'. The

aperture designated as 2 1 is usually formedy .With anA upturned lipl 24`to provide anannusu lar cavity 26. Aperture 22'is likevvise'providf i `25v edwth all Ulpturned lip-27 to Aform annularcavity 28. Theseapertures, namely 2lf'and :22,are respectively provided for the efliuX la'ndmintlovv of vapor trom andto thetanlz,V T he upturned lips 24 and 27, particularlyilip 27, y prevent condensate iiom .passing `g"out through the apertures 'which' they form, tendg ing to-keep it Within the valveand return v'it tothe'ta'nk,A Y y i, y Y

In accordance With my invention I provide entirely'iire'e,V thus permitting a greater quan-` tityof vapor to -pass through the apertures '--With a relatively low pressure jdrop. Mov# able valves 29, formed of a suitable material vfasaluminum, copper or Monel metal, depend'- Iing uponthe character lof the service in which the valves` are to be employed, t areY provided.

The sealing-of the valve is accomplished byV filling the annular cavities v26and 28 vvitha suitable 'sealing fluid 31 FasV mercury,v oil or z glycerine.V A convenient manner of.l intro- .ducing thegi'luid :is through apassage 32 leaderably' positioned ,on the valve so that the `apertures 2l and 22 throughavvhichva'por flow takes place are-free'offany obstructions and so thatA collection'` of .y condensate inthe dash pots is minimized.A` Since the dashfpot depends'for its action `in part upona liquid, Y i dilutionrof the liquid-'renders action of the'V dash pot less effective toprevent the iiutte'ring.

Y The ydaslfr potsiV are conveniently.: formed of ametal tube 35joined bysoldering to aflange 38 `Which' is secured'byfrivets 39 tothe valve.

Thetube -35 is closed "by a frictionally en gaged guide 40 apertured'to pass a hollow Y small` tube 41. vSecured to the small tube i and fitting freely Within the tube is a piston 42, preferably of metal since wood is apt to fluid passagesV infthe piston so that fluid accessacross thepiston is possible... Such aperturelf fj Thevalve isgiiided-4 during its movement engagement'of the metal piston r With the `f r'tube-35"and by eifigagement'ofv the guide V40 andthe lsmallftube 4l which is'securelyheld f fri" cti'onallyr in ai member Member 43 is vusuallyfadapted"to be screwed into'a hood.

Admission ,offluidftov thel tube'35 is ycon- Vswell andstick.;v I'have observed that the V4dampening action'is'improved by forming veniently.: cared for by providing apertures 46c-inlv the rod so ythat `"cornmunicatio'n may be hadl withl thelt-ubelV Upon removal ofrscrew cap 47jfromthe member-43, the :iuid can be introduced vintofthe smallftube 41 to loW through theapertures 46 into the tube. The Vproper'oil level in theftube 35 is conveniently vfixed byraising thelvalve to extreme open Passage of vapor to and vfrom the small tul)e"1 t1`.iscared for byv forming cap 4T with a circular groove 49 upon its `lower face 50. VMember1143.is drilled toprovide holes 71 extendinglongitudinally of it and positioned i4-formed in the cap. so that ai passageway exists through j vapor .passage 74 from the .position *landt-lien, with thevalvein this posi v4gtionfgfillir'g the vtubes fvvith oil. 5 valve means forcontrolling flow of vapor through the apertures 2lI and 22gin such a. manner that kthe apertures are substantiallyv small tube to vgroove -49 Aand to the holes 7l which extend to 'the-interior of the hood.

ing` means forthe smally tube 4l.; utilized in connection with the dash p'ots and also 4toV cover over the valve structure.

indicated at 44 is adapted tobe secured over' theaperturev23 to be vapor tight. This 4is .Conveniently accomplishedfbyl Wing nuts 51 engaged With'circumferentially spaced studs 52 which project from the valve body and pass'4 through ears `-53 onv the hood.

Hoodf45 is'adapted to be spaced fro'mthe The hood i k The hoods-44an'd45 serve as a supportbosses 59 in the hood. lVing nuts 61 are engaged with the studs 57 to secure the hood in spaced position.

Upon occurrence of a pressure diderential across the valve body which is greater than that for which the valve is set, vapor flow will take place to or from the tank, depending upon the exact nature of the differential. Thus, when the iressure within the tank is greater than that about the valve body, pressure valve 62 will lift to permit flow of vapor through the apertuie :21 outwardly about the hood 45. It is to be noted that the aperture is entirely free and that vapor flow is not obstructed `while the dash pot is entirely out of the flow of vapor thus obviating any tendency for condensate to collect and flow into the dash pot to dilute the oil. Similarly, when a decrease in pressure occurs within the tank, and the pressure becomes less than that about the body, vacuum valve 63 will lift to a posin tion as indicated in Figure 1 and permit flow of fluid from the atmosphere about the valve into the tank.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figure Q a valve seat 7l formed of an annular ring is shown as positioned in the annular cavity for cooperative seating engagement with a valve 72. This type of seat has certain advantages over liquid seals, particularly where the valves must be installed and lett without maintenance or inspection for a oonsiderable length of time. The valve seat may be constructed of suitable materials as metals, or suitable non-metals as resinous products and retained in place in the annular cavity by filling the cavity with a suitable agent as an alloy or by other means such as that cementing material known as Smooth-n.

In the valve shown in Figure a valve seat having al knife edge 81 is positioned for cooperative engagement with disc 82. This structure provides a valve of the poppet type which, in some instances, possesses distinct advantages over other types of valves. The materials here employed may be those best suited to the conditions.

In operation the valve may be initially constructed of a weight sufficient to provide the desired opening pressures. However, it variation in these pressures is to be made it is expedient to make them of a relatively lightweight and then load them with suitable weights as lead washers.

By providing the constructions shown, material improvements have been effected over prior valves, the flow capacity being increased and condensation difiiculties obvia-ted or minimized substantially. lVith respect to flow capacity, the capacity of the valve here disclosed was 100,000 cubic feet per hour as compared to 55,000 cubic feet per hour for a prior valve having the same size aperture.

I claim:

1. In a breather valve adapted to be connected` to a fluid containing tank, a body apertured to provide an inlet valve seat and an outlet valve seat, each surrounding passages tor vapor passing to and from said tank, a movable inlet valve member 'lor positioning on the inlet valve seat to seal olf vapor passing to the tank, the body having an apertured portion immediately over the inlet valve seat through which the inlet valve member can be passed, a hood adapted to engage the body to seal the said apertured portion, a dash pot mechanism carried cooperatively by the hood and the valve and extending between them within the body so as to leave a tree fluid path thro'ugh the passage sealed by the valve member, another movable valve member for positioning on the outlet valve seat to seal olf vapor passing from the tank, said valve members being respectively operable in response to a lower than atmospheric pressure and a higher than atmospheric pressure within the' tank,a hood member secured over the other movable valve member in spaced relationship tothe body to permit tree fluid passage past the other valve member, and. a dash pot mechanism extending between the other valve member and the hood member outside ot' the body so as to permit an entirely free fluid path through the passage sealed by the other valve member.

In a breather valve adapted vto be conn ected to a fluid containing tank, a body aperture to provide an inlet valve seat and an outlet valve seat, each surrounding passages for vapor passing to and from said tank, a movable inl-et valve member for positioning on the inlet valve seat to seal 'oit vapor passing to the tank, the body having an apertured portion immediately over the inlet valve seat through which the inlet valve member can be passed, a removable hood adapted to engage the body to seal the said apertured portion, a dash pot mechanism carried cooperatively by the hood and the valve and .L

extending between them within the body so as to leave a free fl'uid path through the passage sealed by the valve member, the dash pot mechanism and valve member being removable with the hood, another movable valve member for positioning on the outlet valve seat to seal olf vapor passing from the tank. said valve members being respectively operable in response to a lower than atmospheric pressure and a higher than atmosphe 1ic pressure within the tank, a hood member movably secured over the other movable valve member in spaced relationship to the body to permit free fluid passage past the other valve member, and a dash pot mechanism extending between the other valve member and he hood member outside ot the body so as to permit an entirely free fluid path through the passage sealed by the other valve member, the dash pot mechanisni and ,thei other {valvel memberA being; removable withthehood s3. Ina breather valve adaptedtofbe con-c5 nectedftoa fluid containingtanhja body apertured to providean .inletand an outlet grooved portions surrounding the inlet and outlet-portion andadapted to contain a liquid sealing iuid, valve; members cooperatively positioned with respect toe'ach groove and 'adapted to cooperatefwith the liquid sealing Huid to seal'oi va-por 4flow through both,v the inlet and `outlet passages, the bodyi including anaperture providing ifa' passage for fluid communication with thetank', a flange for en gagement with -the` body, the flange and body i A' having surfaces permitting ya limited uni-V versal movement betweenfthem so as to persealing fluid to'seal Aolf vapo'rflowV through f both the v inlet V andoutlet passages, `the body.

' bodyfbeing recessed fgadjacent the last menmit theY valve tofrbe installed "and maintained in aposition on a ,tank'roof vwhereintheincluding an aperture providing a passage for fluid communication with f .the tank, `a

flange having a curvedextension thereon,- the tioned'apertureto'ol'eoeive`the said 1 curved ex` tension'to allow: for alimited universal movef .ment betweenthemso asl to permitjthevalve to beinstalled and maintained infa.posi tion on aftank .roof wherein the liquid sealing Aiuid is uniformly fdistributedin the grooved p ortions,and means lforsecuring the ange and body together.

' 5.'In` `breather,valveincluding anaper- .ture adapted to be covered by a'valve-member,

" 'member and theA liquid sealin cooperative' position; (illna ture adapted to be covered by a valve member, y

a .liquid .seal for providing af' seating and l @vapor sealing closure about the aperture for the -valve membena body carrying? the' valve relationship', means `for securing lthe body in communication with af liquid `containing tank 4so 'that the V"valve member ycontro-ls vvapor 'flow throughtheapertureffromand tothe tank, Athe securingV means -includinga 'joint' adapted to permit-levelingof` the lvalve on l 66 fthe tank so'that ythe liquid seal is maintained v in full seating Vand vapor sealing closure breatherVE valve. including an `apera liquid seal ,for providing ajseating'V and f,vaporsealingclosure about the aperturefor o positioned ,and said piston.

` inserm@ the vvalve yineijnlber,ja `Ybody;carrying theva'lve member and theliquid s ealin cooperative re-v lationship, means for securingthe` body. in communicationwith a liquid containing tank so that the valve member controls vapor flow through the aperture from and to thegtank, the securing means includinga recessedlange on the valve vand albody adapted tobe inserted into lthe recessed langeqto permit leveling of vthevalve on the tank so that'the liquidseal is maintained ill-*full seating and vaporl seal-r Aing closure position. Y i

7.In a device of the character `desciibedfa body'h'avlng a passagetherethrough for How of fluid and havingl avalve kseat, formed-with-f in the same, a movablevalveV memberY co7 `operatively positionedfuponsaid seat, an upright cylinder member having its'lOwerfend connected tojsaidlvalve member, a piston slidably fitted within said cylinder` member and adapted to form a dash pot therewith, a hood end Vof said cylinder membereXtendinginto said hoodV when said valve membergisin closed posltion, andmeans vi'iorming aconnectlon between; the

Vupper-part of' said hood Y: 8.]In a device .of the character described l ,adaptedtobe mounted -upon afluid tank, a hollow body,

a grooved valve seatformed within the body and adapted to EVreceive-a abovethevalve member, the upper sealingliquid medium, a movable valvemem Y connecting the body to'the tank, wherebythe v bodycan' be adjusted toa position in the. liquid sea-ling medium. isfuniformly i dis- [tributed within said groove.

' beradapted'to cooperate with said .seat,.and means capable ofuniversal.adjustment for adapted to beV mounted upon la Vfluid tank, a

hollow body, a valveseat` formed Vwithin the fbody, affluidoperated valve member adapted to cooperate with the "seat,ymeans secured "to `the for guiding said valve lmember v'for linear movement towards and avvayfrom said seat, and .means f'capable of universal adjustment for connectingthe body to thetank,

whereby the body can be adjustedto posiionlin which saidguiding meansv will permit freemovement of saidvalve member,

10, In a, devies Of-,thecharaeaf (iscritti` fadaptedto befconnectedto a l'luid tank,` a hollow body, avalve seatAY surrounding an openin said body, `amovable valve member adaptedto cooperatewith said seat,a hoodsecured to.saidbodyabovesaid seat, saidhood Y having an upwardlye'xtending portion above the "center of the: valve member, v a' dash' pot mechanism. interconnecting the upper end ofy said hoodwith said valve member, said mch- `anismextending llpWftldlyr into the interior vofisaid upwardly extendinghood p ortioni" lIntestimony whereof, I have hereunto setmyhand. m f Y 1 REGINAnDC. SFIMID 

